Chess

Russia I beat England narrowly in round nine at the Olympiad in Elista. On board one Michael Adams, faced with Peter Svidler's super- prepared opening analysis, lost. Nigel Short fought unavailingly trying to make more than a draw against Sergei Rublevsky, Matthew Sadler's draw with Alexander Morozovich is appended below, and Tony Miles drew comfortably with Vadim Zviagintsev. Score 21/2 to 11/2.

Other results: USA beat France 21/2-11/2, Russia II beat Bulgaria 3-1, Yugoslavia beat Ireland 3-1, Wales beat Scotland 3-1, Jersey beat Seychelles 21/2-11/2 and Guernsey drew 2-2 with Mali.

USA still leads with 241/2 points, ahead of Russia I and Russia II 24, Ukraine 23; with England, France, Germany, Bulgaria and Armenia on 221/2. There are four rounds to go.

The Chinese women, with 22 points, meet their expected rivals, the Georgians, on 19, in round 10. The Englishwomen (on 151/2) after beating Mongolia 3-0 in round nine, are meeting Cuba. The Scots have 141/2, the Welsh 11 and the Irish 10 in the women's Olympiad.

The Irish are making a determined effort to raise themselves into the top half of the world's chess nations, as shown by their win over Poland. Their hero on that occasion was Bryan Kelly who, with matter-of-fact play, beat grandmaster Michal Krasenkow, who is rated 250 points higher. The round eight game (Kelly is White): 1 d4 f5 2 g3 Nf6 3 Bg2 e6 4 Nf3 d5 5 0-0 Bd6 6 c4 c6 7 b3 Qe7 8 Ne5 0-0 9 Bb2 b6 10 cxd5 cxd5 11 Nc4 Nc6 12 Nxd6 Qxd6 13 Nc3 Ba6 14 a4 Rfc8 15 Ba3 Qd7 16 Qd2 Ne4 17 Nxe4 dxe4 18 Rfd1 Na5 19 Rab1 Qd5 20 f3 Bb7 21 fxe4 fxe4 22 Bb4 Nc6 23 Bc3 Ne7 24 Rf1 Qh5 25 Bb4 Nf5 26 Rf4 Qg6 27 Rbf1 h5 28 d5 Rd8 29 Bxe4 Bxd5 30 Bxf5 exf5 31 Rd4 1-0.

Sadler's draw involved some precisely calculated variations stemming from 24... Nc4, eg if 24 Rxd5 Ng4! while if 25 b3, instead of Bc1, then 25... Nb2! His opponent may have more enduring pressure with 19 Rd2 and 22 Bd4.

White: Alexander Morozevich (Russia)

Black: Matthew Sadler

Elista, round nine

Round 10 pairings: Russia II (24) vs USA (241/2); Ukraine (23) vs Russia I (24); England (221/2) vs France (221/2); Ireland (181/2) vs Peru (181/2).

1 e4 c5

2 Nf3 d6

3 Bb5+ Bd7

4 Bxd7+ Qxd7

5 c4 Nc6

6 Nc3 g6

7 d4 cxd4

8 Nxd4 Bg7

9 Be3 Bf6

10 f3 0-0

11 0-0 Rfd8

12 Qd2 e6

13 Rad1 d5

14 Nxc6 bxc6

15 Bg5 Qc7

16 cxd5 cxd5

17 exd5 exd5

18 Qf2 Qb7

19 Rd3?! Rab8

20 Bf4 Rbc8

21 Be3 Nd7

22 Rfd1 Ne5

23 Rxd5 Rxd5 (see diagram)

24 Nxd5 Nc4!

25 Bc1 Nxb2

26 Bxb2 Bxb2

27 Ne7+ Qxe7

28 Qxb Draw